Legal Metrology : Calibration of vehicle tank

Calibration of vehicle tanks for petroleum products and other liquids

A vehicle tank is an assembly used for measurement and delivery of liquids comprising a tank which may or may not be sub-divided into compartments, mounted upon a vehicle together with its necessary piping, valves, meters etc.

Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011's ninth schedule, Part I deals with the Calibration of Vehicle Tanks for Petroleum Products and other liquids.

Initially, the tank is partially filled with water and tested against leakage in the tank, pipeline or at the valve. The compartments are visually checked for any rusting, grease or any other foreign material. Water or other suitable liquid shall be used as a testing medium in determining the capacity of vehicle tank compartment. Using an overhead proving tank (capacity 500 or 1000 l) or bulk meter, a known quantity equal to the capacity of the compartment is discharged to the vehicle tank. The level of liquid on each compartment is etched on the different faces of the dip rod.

After calibration, the manhole of the tank is sealed using twisted wire and lead. A certificate of verification is issued with the vehicle registration number, chassis number, length, breadth and height of the tank, internal length of each compartment, capacity, dip line, proof line etc. For a 5 kl tank, the maximum permissible error is + or - 5 litre.

Tank compartments are serially numbered from the engine and capacity of each compartment will be marked on both sides of the tank, on the manhole and at the discharge valve. A brass stamping plate will be riveted on the tank with Title of the Act, vehicle registration number, place to receive Inspector's stamp etc.

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Dip stick is a square or rectangular or hexagonal metal bar of brass or other suitable hard material used to determine the depth of the liquid in the tank. Dip hole has a diameter of 30 to 40 mm and extends 25 mm above the manhole. When the dip road is inserted in the dip hole and it finally touches the datum plate at the tank bottom. Then from the dip road marking, the quantity of liquid in the compartment, can be measured.

Kerala Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules, 2012 : Schedule X

User fee : Rs 5 per 100 litre
Stamping fee : Rs 50 for the first 100 litre plus Rs 7 for the additional 100 l or part thereof subjected to a maximum of Rs 5000.

Normally, in a tank lorry, there can be 3 compartments of 4000 l each. For a 12 kl tank, the UF + SF comes around Rs 1500. It has to be stamped annually.

Penalty

Use of unverified vehicle tank for transaction is punishable under Sec 24 r/w 33 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.

Kerala Legal Metrology Department has got three Tank calibration units at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode.